Fuel-feeding device



Oct. 22, 1929. G. BOYD FUEL FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1927 INVENTOR earye Boyd AT TORNE;

Patented Oct. 22, 1929 ATENT OFFICE GEORGE BOYD, OF DUNELLEN, NEW JERSEY F'UEL-FEEDIN G DEVICE Application filed May 7, 1927. Serial No. 189,467.

This invention relates to devices for feeding fuel employed in internal combustion engines from a storage tank to the engine or the carbureter thereof and particularly to the feeding of gasoline; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described comprising a tank or cylinder, the chamber of which is exposed to the engine suction by means communicating with the upper end of said chamber whereby a predetermined quantity of gas may be drawn into said chamber and discharged therefrom for supply to the carburetor; a further objcct being to provide a comparatively large float in said chamber which is raised by the gasoline or other fuel drawn into sucn chamber by the vacuum created and said float having a valve for closing the suction passage when the float reaches a predetermined height in the chamber of the tank; a further object being to provide means coupled with the upper end portion of the tank, and communicating with the chamber thereof for placing said chambe' in communication with the fuel storage tank, and the upper end portion of said chamber having a large strainer surface for straining the gasoline or other fuel passed into said chamber and prior to its discharge to the carburetor; a further object being to provide means for placing the lower end portion of said chamber in communication with the carburetor and check valve in said means for preventing the backward suction of the gasoline or fuel from the carburetor; a still further object being to provide an air vent for the upper end portion of the chamber of said tank and also for the communicating means with the carbureter, whereby the transmission of the fuel from the tank to the carburetor when the suction passage is closed may be effected; a still further object being to provide a tank or container of the class specified composed of a tubular glass cylinder and end caps for closing the opposite ends of said cylinder whereby the condition and operation of the device may be seen at all times in order to detect engine trouble, and to determine primarily as to the fuel supply and transmission to the carbureter, and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which 2-- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating the assemblage and use of my improved fuel feeding device, the device itself being shown in section and on an enlarged scale; and,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention, I have indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, at 5, an internal combustion engine, the intake manifold of which is seen at 6, and at 7 I have shown a suitable carburetor. In said figure, I have indicated at 8 a part of a fuel storage tank which is customarily arranged at the rear end of a motor vehicle, assuming that the device is to be so installed, it being understood, however that I am not necessarily limited to any particular use or installation of my improved device.

In the construction shown, my improved feed device is constructed from a tubular casing or body 9 preferably composed of heavy glass and mounted at the upper end of said body is a closure cap 10. A similar closure cap 11 is mounted at the lower end thereof, and said caps and body are held together by a plurality of coupling rods 12, and passed through projecting cars 13 on the caps 10 and 11, note Fig. 2. Suitable packing rings or gaskets 14 are employed at the upper and lower edges of the body 9 to form a cushion mounting of the caps 10 and 11 as well as a seal for the chamber 15 of the device.

Centrally of the cap 10 is a threaded aperture, in which is mounted a tubular plug 16, the lower end of said plug having a. beveled seat 17 opening into the chamber 15 below a large andsubstantially conical screen or strainer member 18 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the body 10. A suction pipe 19 in communication with the intake manifold 6 is coupled and in communication float.

with the plug 16 through a suitable coupling 20, whereby the engine suction, when the engine is in operation, will create a substantial Vacuum in the chamber 15 in the operation of the device as later described.

A comparatively large float 21 is mounted in the chamber 15 and held in central position but free to move vertically in said chamber by three rods 22 secured to the cap 11 and extending upwardly into the chamber 15 a sufficient height to prevent tilting of the The float carries at its upper end a needle valve 23 adapted'to rest in the conical seat 17 when the float is in raised position to shut ofl the suction passage opening into the chamber 15.

A fuel supply pipe 24 extends from the storage tank 8 in the usual manner, and this pipe is placed in communication with the upper end portion of, the chamber 15 or the chamber 15 formedabove the strainer 18 by a suitable coupling 25 attached to the cap 10, and a goose-neck tube 26 extends into the V chamber 15- and in the direction of the wall of said chaniber as clearly seen, in order that the pressure of the fuel discharged into said chamber may be directed to the cylinder 9 and distributed over the major portion of the strainer area.

The cap 11 is provided at one side with a downwardly and outwardly extending enlargement 11 in which is formed a discharge passage 27', and a pipe 28 is placed in communication with said passage-and with the carbureter 7. Mounted in the enlargement 11 or the passage 27 thereof, is a tubular bushing 29 which supports a plate-like check valve 30 placed in position through a large opening 31 in the enlargement 11 which opening is closed by a plug 32 having an inwardly'directed-pin 33 which limits the opentral portion of said cap, and it is also to be noted "thatthe discharge passage 27 opens into the chamber 15 abovethe bottom of salt chamber'rby virtue of the inwardly directed extension 36.

A vent-tube 37-is placed in communication with the upper endof'the chamber 1515 through a bore 38 controlled by anadjustable needlevalve139 which-is employed to regulate the area of the vent opening to suit the' requirements of a predetermined engine.

The vent tube 37 is also placed in a communication with the discharge passage 27 outwardly of the valve 30 through a pipe $0.

The operation of my improved fuel feeding device will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement. In the initial use of the device, the engine may be drawn over by a starting motor or otherwise, to such extent as to draw gasoline or other fuel into the chamber 15 and discharge it to the carbureter to start the engine in operation, but the carbureter and chamber 15 may be filled to the desired degree by pouring the gasoline or other fuel into the chamber 15 through the port 38 by removing the valve 39, and as the engine continues to operate and assuming that the float 21 has dropped in the chamber 15 to open the suction passage, it being understood that the weight of the float is suiiicient to overcome the suction when a geod portion of the fuel has been transmitted from the chamber 15 to the carburetor. llhen said suction passage 19 is opened, the check valve 30 is instantly closed, and the fuel i drawn from the storage tank 8 and discharged into the chamber 15 through the pipe 24 and goose-neck 26. This operation continues until the fuel has again reached a height sufficient to raise the float 21 to a position wherein the valve 23 will close the suction passage, at which time, the check valve 30 is automatically opened, and the fuel in the chamber 15 will drop by gravity to the carbureter 7, the vent tube facilitating this operation. It will also be apparent, that in the operation of refilling the chamber 15 and when the check valve 30 is closed, the vent tube 40 will permit the feeding of the fuel in the pipe 28 to the carburetor.

As the engine continues to operate, the above operation is repeated as often as it is necessary to replenish the supply of fuel, and it will be understood that the actual movement of the float may be but slight from itsuppermost to its lowermost position, caring for the fuel replenishment to the carbureter. In any event, at all times, there will be a suflicient amount of fuel contained in the lower portion of the chamber 15 to meet the requirements of the carbureter.

It will be understood that while I have shown certain details of construction for carrying my invention into effect, that I am not necessarily limited to these details, and various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. fuel feeding device comprising a tubular casing having end Wall members to form a continuous fuel chamber within said casing, the upper wall member having a fuel supply inlet, a suction passage and a vent port all opening into the upper end of said fuel chamber, the lower wall member having an enlarged portion extending outwardly and radially from said wall and pr .vided with a passage communicating with the fuel chnnher, a check valve in said last named passage and normally closed by the suction created. in said chamber, said enlarged portion having an opening to give access to said passage, a plug closing said opening and cooperating with said check valve to limit the n'iovement thereof in one direction, a vent tube coupled with said enlarged portion and in communication with said passage outwardly of said check valve and extending longitudinally of the casing and in communication with said vent port, a float mounted in the fuel chamber and carrying a valve co-operating with the suction passage to close said passage when a predetermined level of fuel is mai ,tained in said chamber, a fuel discharge pipe coupled with said enlarged portion outwardly of said check valve, whereby when said suction passage is closed through the action of said float, said check valve will be released, permitting the discharge of fuel from said chamber through said passage and discharge pipe.

2. A fuel feeding device comprising a tubular casing having end wall members to form a continuous fuel chamber within said casing, the upper wall member having a fuel supply inlet, a suction passage and a vent port all openinginto the upper end of said fuel chamber, the lower wall member having an enlarged portion extending outwardly and radially from said well and provided with a passage communicating with the fuel chamber, a check valve in said lastnamed passage and normally closed by the suction created in said. chamber, said enlarged portion having an opening to give access to said passage, a plug closing said opening and cooperating with said check valve to limit the movement thereof in one direction, a vent tube coupled with said enlarged portion and in communication with said passage outwardly of said check valve and extending longitudinally of the casing and in comnuuiication with said vent port, a float mounted in the fuel chamher and carrying a valve cooperating with the suction passage to close said passage when apredetermined level of fuel is maintained in said chamber, a fuel discharge pipe coupled with said enlarged portion outwardly of said check valve whereby when said suction passage is closed through the action of said float, said check valve will be released, p rmitting the discharge of fuel from said chamber throughsaid passage and discharge pipe, and plurality of rods mounted upon the lower wall member extending upwardly into the fuel chamber and arranged about the periphery of said float to guide the same in its vertical movement in said chamber.

3. A fuel feeding device comprising a tubular casiiig having end wall membersto form a continuous fuel chamber within said casing, the upper wall member having a fuel supply inlet, a suction passage and a vent port all opening into the upper end of said fuel chamber, the lower wall member having an enlarged portion extending outwardly and radially from said wall and provided with a passage communicating with the fuel chamher, a check valve in said last named passage and normally closed by the suction created in said chamber, said enlarged portion having an opening to give access to said passage, a plug closing said opening and cooperating with saidchecl: valve to limit the movement thereof in one direction, a vent tube coupled withsaid enlarged portion and in conununication with said passage outwardly of said check valve and extending longitudinally of the casing and in communication with said vent port, float mounted in the fuel chamber and carrying a valve cooperating with the suction passage to close said passage when a predetermined level of fuel is maintained in said chamber; a fuel discharge pipe coupled with said enlarged portion outwardly of said check valve, whereby when said suction passage is closed through the action of said float, said check valve will be released, permitting the discharge of fuel from said chamber through said passage and discharge pipe, and an adjustment screw cooperating with said vent port to control the area of the vent port communicating with the upper end of the fuel chamber.

4. A fool feeding device comprising a tubular casing having end wall members to form a continuous fuel chamber within said casing, the upper wall member having a fue supply inlet, a suction pas re and a vent port all opening into the upper end of said fuel chamber, the lower wall member having an enlarged portion extending outwardly and radially from said. wall and provided with a passage communicating with the fuel chamber, a check valve in said last nan'ied passage and normally closed by the suction created in said chamber, said enlarged portion l'iaving an opening to give access to said passage, a plug closing said opening and cooperating with said check valve to limit the movement thereof in one direction, vent tube coupled with said enlarged portion and in communication with said passage outwardly of said checl: valve and extending longitudinally of the casing and in com munication with said vent port, a float mounted inthe fuel chamber and carrying a valve cooperating with the suction passage to close said passage when a predetermined level of fuel is maintained in said chamber,

, 11-5" "form-a continuous fuelchamber within said a fuel discharge pipe coupled with said enlarged portion outwardly of said check valve, whereby when said suction passage is closed through the action of said float, said check valve will be released, permitting the discharge of fuel from said chamber through said passage and discharge pipe, and a large conicalstrainer supported centrally of the lower face of the upper wall and extending outwardly and downwardly the peripheral edge thereof engaging the surface of the tubular body below the fuel admission into said chamber.

'5. A fuel feeding device comprising a tubular casing having end wall members to casing, the upper wall member having a fuel supply inlet, a suction passage and a vent port all opening into the upper end of said fuel chamber, the lower wall m mber having an enlarged portion extending outwardly and radially from said wall and provided with a passage communicating with the fuel chamber, a check valve in said last named passage and normally closed by the suction created in said chamber, said enlarged portion having an opening to give access to said passage, a plug closing said opening and cooperating with said check ,valve to limitthe movement thereof in one direction, a vent tube coupledwith said enlargedportion and in. communication with said passage outwardly of said check valve and extending longitudinally of the casing and in communication with said vent port, a float mounted in the fuel chamber and carrying a valve cooperating with the suction passage to close said passage when a predetermined level of fuel is maintained in said chamber, a fuel discharge pipe coupled. with said enlarged portion outwardly of said check valve, whereby when said suction passage is closed through the action of said float, said check ,valve will be'released, permitting the discharge of fuel from said chamber through said passage and discharge pipe, and the upper surface of the lower wall being tapered 'to' the central portion thereto, and a drain passage at the central portionof said wall.

-6. In a fuel feeding device of the class described, an elongated casing having a fuel chamber therein, means for transmitting fuel tothe upper end of said chamber, a suction passage communicating with the central portion of saidchamber, a float in said chamber and having a'valve controlling said suction passage, a vent port communicating with the upper end of'said chamber, the lower end of the casing being provided with an outwardly projecting enlargement having a passage opening into the lower end of said chamber and outwardly through said enlargement, a checlrvalve interposed 1n said passage, a

plug rclosing the outer end of said passage,

,afuel discharge pipe in communication with I the passage in said enlargement outwardly of said valve, a vent tube arranged longitudinally of the casing and communicating with the upper end of said passage outwardly of the check valve and with the vent port 

